Joystiq hands-on with the new PSP

[wraggster]

Article via joystiq

We spent some alone time with the newly announced PSP redesign. At first glance, the system appears to be identical to the original system, but getting our hands on the system revealed that this is, in fact, a significant upgrade to the original. The most immediate thing we noticed was how light the system is: the original was in no ways heavy, but the new handheld is certainly much lighter, without making it too feathery.

The glossy new finish of the redesigned PSP is very attractive, although we're afraid that it might attract fingerprints much more easily than the already susceptible original. Regardless, the shiny new sheen makes the system makes the original look dull in comparison.

The new system is thinner, mostly due to the newly designed UMD door. Instead of having mechanical gears that force the system open, this system features a latch that must be opened by hand. The door feels much more secure than the original. According to John Koller, dropping the system won't result in the UMD shooting out, as it did in the previous system design.

In addition to being slimmer, the new system also has redesigned buttons that feel much more responsive than the original. The D-Pad and face buttons all have a little bit more resistance to them, making the tactile sensation of using the system that much better. Unfortunately, Koller explained that the analog nub is not improved, although we found that a brand-new system works better than our system from launch.

There are also a few more minor changes, such as the omission of the unused IR port. The Wi-Fi switch has been moved to the top of the system, where it's less likely to be hit by accident. The Memory Stick port was moved to the other side of the system, and is much more cramped. We're a little disappointed by that change, because it makes swapping the Stick out of the system a little bit more difficult than previously.

The new headphone jack (pictured, above) not only moves further to the left of the system, but utilizes a new pin system that allows for the system's video-out. Component or composite cables can be used for TV out, but Koller explains that PSP game output will only be component-compatible. Movies (of both Memory Stick and UMD flavors) can use either component or composite cables. The video output of UMD video is especially impressive, due to the UMD's high video resolution. Many people have forgotten that UMD movies are encoded in DVD resolution: 480p. We're certain that this new feature will make UMD movies more viable than they have in the past.

Screens Via Comments

[E.J.]

The earphones port looks all the same to me.

Could this tv-out be implemented on software? (that would explain why games can be output only in composite)

If so... wouldn't it be posible to have this feature in the ol' good PSP

[PSPdemon]

The earphones port looks all the same to me.

Could this tv-out be implemented on software? (that would explain why games can be output only in composite)

If so... wouldn't it be posible to have this feature in the ol' good PSP

the problem with this is that it is different.... and also that the new model uses a new type of nand ( 64 instead of 32 )

also we dont know how much this new firmware uses up in space.... so that too could be a new problem of intergrating this 3.6 firmware with current psp's

I think this is what the psp really needs...

Ill be sure to buy this when it comes out

Thanks for Everything,
PSPdemon

[xcjzerox]

I just called sony

this is what they said the first version of the psp will keep coming with new FW updates with the other one will keep having new feature the whole video output
will be for the new one the is coming in sept im SO ANGRY NOW I HAVE TO BUY A Whole other UNIT

[zheg_pagaza]

pictures sux!!

[voorheesda]

Its not a too big difference :S its not like the difference in DS PHAT and DS LITE... rip off !!!!!!!!!:@

[emuking]

um psp redesign a rip off, at least with the ds lite you get something

[shedeus]

video is out is kinda cool but.... not really the point of the psp is it? i'll stick with my fat ass psp running OE and homebrew

[sony.1991]

They promised us 8gigs of BUILT IN FLASH! The ONLY good thing about this piece of S*** is the video out which should have been in the first design. Hey where's the smaller design they were telling us about? Or the LED screen?

[Shadowblind]

Hmmmm...so say this only only has firmware above 3.60. Dark_Alex is gone, and they probably added more crap to keep homebrew-ers from making the best out of their, uh, "console". Not to mention ANYONE who even STARTS to hack this console is gonna get sued like crazy from $ony.

So whos gonna buy it for its crappy normal games?